Biography - WILLIAM T. BIVIN

A lifelong residence in Macoupin county has given William T. Bivin opportunity of becoming thoroughly acquainted with the resources of this section of the state and also of acquiring the valuable farm which he owns in North Otter township. He was born at Macoupin, in October, 1840, and is a son of Thomas and Martha (Collins) Bivin. The parents were both natives of Kentucky and, like many people south of the Ohio river in the early days of the settlement of Illinois, believed that this state possessed superior advantages. Accordingly they came to Morgan county but early in the ’30s settled in Macoupin county, where Mr. Bivin applied himself successfully as a farmer and became the owner of eighty acres of land. He died in August, 1865, the mother passing away about twelve years later. They were the parents of nine children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being: Jane, who is now deceased; John, of Neosha county, Kansas; James, who is also deceased; Benjamin F., who lives at Palmyra, Illinois; William T., of this review; Alice, who is the widow of Henry Flinch, of Macoupin county; Sarah, the wife of William Marshall, of Amsterdam, Missouri; and Thomas, who is deceased.

William T. Bivin possessed advantages of education in the common schools and continued at home until after arriving at his majority. In 1864 he responded to the call of his country for volunteers to put down the rebellion and enlisted at Jacksonville, Illinois, in the Thirty-second Illinois Infantry. He served most creditably until after the close of the war and was honorably mustered out at Leavenworth, Kansas, in September; 1865. He went to Missouri in 1869 and engaged in farming there but in the fall of 1871 returned to Macoupin county and bought thirty acres on section 28 of North Otter township. He applied himself diligently and as he acquired the necessary capital purchased more land until he became the owner of one hundred and thirty acres, which he has greatlv improved, making his place one of the most desirable of its size in the township. He is a general farmer and stock-raiser and, as he uses good judgment in his business, his farm yields a generous annual income.

In February, 1862, Mr. Bivin was married to Miss Nancy Hays, and there were eight children born to this union, two of whom died in infancy. The others are: Adie Belle, the widow of Pierce Jones, of Morgan county; William H., of Macoupin county; Herman Eli, of Barnett, Illinois; Mary Ann, who is the wife of Allan Price, of Macoupin; Nellie Myrtle, who married Jordan Peacock, of Carlinville; and Shebert, who is deceased. The mother of these children died in 1898 and Mr. Bivin was married, May 7, 1903, to Mrs. Annie (Yowell) Nevins, the widow of Patterson Nevins. She died in 1907 and Mr. Bivin was again married, the lady of his choice being Mrs. Martha (Paul) Park, the widow of Hugh Park and a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Hughs) Paul. The parents were both born in Ohio and in their family were ten children, namely: Julia and Mary, both of whom are deceased; Martha, now Mrs. William T. Bivin; Nancy and Eva, both of whom have passed away; Hugh, who lives at Terre Haute, Indiana; John, of Bells Lake, Illinois; Laura, who is the wife of Lee Heuther, of Carlinville; Emma, who is deceased; and William, who lives in Colorado.

Mr. Bivin gives his allegiance to the republican party, which he has supported ever since he reached manhood, and is interested in all matters of progressive citizenship whether local or national. Religiously he is identified with the Methodist church. A man of industry and good discrimination, he has met with merited success in his life work and is known as one of the substantial citizens of the county. Genial and social by nature, he easily wins friends and has the happy faculty of retaining their warm regard.

Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 720-721.